A long-neglected high street building once home to Burton and Dorothy Perkins could soon be transformed into a rooftop restaurant.

The three-storey site, on the corner of Rose Lane and The Parade in Canterbury, was occupied by the clothing retailers until their demise in 2021.

It has since played host to a series of pop-up shops and smaller businesses, with many residents complaining it has become a city centre eyesore.

But now papers reveal plans to covert the upper two storeys - as well as a new terrace on the roof - into a restaurant catering for more than 300 people.

The plans, which include three shops on the ground floor, have been submitted to Canterbury City Council by real estate giant Arora Family.

It says: "The existing building lacks character and distinctive qualities. The unused appearance of the upper floors, due to black filed windows, projects an atmosphere of neglect to the surrounding area.

"The large interior area allows for a comfortable dining space and bar, and an external terrace provides an outside area to use, gaining views across the surroundings.

"Our proposal enhances the current environment, being a subtle addition but providing a much needed focal point for the high street. This will further benefit and engage the local community."

The ground floor of the building is currently occupied by clothing store Miabella and phone shop iCrash Mobiles, which was involved in an illegal vape scandal uncovered by KentOnline in October.

If approved, the plans could see a total of 25 jobs created, with projections for the restaurant facilities showing as many as 339 people could be seated.

The rooftop terrace could host as many as 64 diners across 23 tables.

It is not yet known if an operator has been lined up or how much the project could cost.

Lisa Carlson - the chief executive of Canterbury Business Improvement District - was pleased to learn of the progress.

"We’re delighted to hear that the former Burton/Dorothy Perkins unit will be occupied," she said.

"While commercial interest in the city is strong, with 41 new openings in 2022 and eight so far this year, a few units can take longer to fill.

"We look forward this new opening in the centre of Canterbury’s high street and welcome the jobs it will create."

Ms Carlson was also quick to reassure those concerned about more retail space potentially being lost to a food and drink business.

She says just 25% of the city's units are occupied by such traders, with retail making up more than a third.

"The mixed use of retail and food and beverage is great to see," she said.

"While we have seen more food and beverage businesses open over the last few years, retail remains an important part of the mix.

"Over 36% of Canterbury’s businesses are retail, and that includes 11 new retail businesses, plus five seasonal pop-ups, over the last year."

Arora Family acquired the building through Sloane Realty, a subsidiary of the firm, in February 2021.

That same month Burton and Dorothy Perkins were bought by Boohoo for more than £25 million.

It is not known how much the property cost, but Arora Family, which has an impressive portfolio of Canterbury real estate, is believed to value it at about £5.8 million.

As well as the former Burton building, it owns 24 St Margaret's Street, which currently operates as Superdry, 36 and 37 High Street, and 8-9 The Parade - half of which is used by Hotel Chocolat.

The High Street properties, along with the other half of 8-9 The Parade, operate as phone shops such as iCrash and iCrack.

According to Arora's valuations, the five-strong Canterbury collection has a total value of about £13 million.

The business, which has roots back to the early 1900s in India, also operates in hospitality and construction, running Indian cuisine eatery Hankies near Marble Arch.